Cleaning head for cleaning carpets and the like in situ

ABSTRACT

A portable cleaning head comprising part of apparatus for cleaning carpets and the like wherein cleaning solution is supplied under pressure from a reservoir system via a cleaning solution supply hose to the cleaning head for spraying onto a carpet and the cleaning head is adapted to be coupled to a vacuum hose connected to a vacuum pick-up system for picking up via the cleaning head and storing cleaning solution applied to the carpet. The cleaning head comprises a floor head assembly and a handle assembly pivotally attached at one end to the floor head assembly and having hand grips at its other end. The floor head assembly contains sprayer means, suction nozzle means and solenoid actuated valve means to control the supply of cleaning solution to the sprayer means. The handle assembly includes two hand grips rigidly carried by two hollow elongated members, an electrical plug and an on-off switch located adjacent the hand grips for coupling the cleaning head to a source of electrical current via a power cord or the like, electrical conductors disposed within one of the hollow elongated members coupling the solenoid to the electrical plug, and fluid coupling means carried by the other hollow elongated member for coupling the sprayer means to the cleaning solution supply hose via this elongated member. A hose is provided between the elongated member and the sprayer means.

United States Patent [191 Morse [451 Nov. 19, 1974 1 1 CLEANING HEAD FORCLEANING CARPETS AND THE LIKE IN SITU [75] Inventor: George A. Morse,Billerica, Mass.

[73] Assignee: Carpetech Corp., Everett, Mass.

[22] Filed: Mar. 1, 1972 [21] Appl. No.2 230,886

[52] US. Cl. 15/322, 15/321, 15/324, 15/410 [51] Int. Cl A471 7/00 [58]Field of Search 15/321, 322, 324, 320, 15/410 [56] References CitedUNITED STATES PATENTS 1,821,715 9/1931 Kuchinsky 15/322 1,996,934 4/1935Siedle 15/324 X 2,635,276 4/1953 Norris 15/320 2,819,485 l/1958Sparklin. 15/410 X 2,844,840 7/1958 Gray 15/321 3,366,288 l/1968Goldschein 15/50 R X 3,439,374 4/1969 Wisdom 15/322 X 3,540,072 11/1970Wolter et al 15/320 3,663,984 5/1972 Anthony et a1. 15/321 PrimaryExaminer-Harvey C. Hornsby Assistant Examiner-C. K. Moore Attorney,Agent, or FirmMelvin E. Frederick 57 ABSTRACT A portable cleaning headcomprising part of apparatus for cleaning carpets and the like whereincleaning solution is supplied under pressure from a reservoir system viaa cleaning solution supply hose to the cleaning head for spraying onto acarpet and the cleaning head is adapted to be coupled to a vacuum hoseconnected to a vacuum pick-up system for picking up via the cleaninghead and storing cleaning solution applied to the carpet. The cleaninghead comprises a floor head assembly and a handle assembly pivotallyattached at one end to the floor head assembly and having hand grips atits other end. The floor head assembly contains sprayer means, suctionnozzle means and solenoid actuated valve means to control the supply ofcleaning solution to the sprayer means. The handle assembly includes twohand grips rigidly carried by two hollow elongated members, anelectrical plug and an on-ofi switch located adjacent the hand grips forcoupling the cleaning head to a source of electrical current via a powercord or the like, electrical conductors disposed within one of thehollow elongated members coupling the solenoid to the electrical plug,and fluid coupling means carried by the other hollow elongated memberfor coupling the sprayer means to the cleaning solution supply hose viathis elongated member. A hose is provided between the elongated memberand the sprayer means.

3 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures CLEANING HEAD FOR CLEANING CARPETS AND THELIKE IN SITU The present invention relates to carpet and upholsterycleaning apparatus, and more particularly to cleaning head apparatus forreceiving and spraying a cleaning solution on a carpet and withdrawingfrom the carpet cleaning solution and entrained dirt.

In the cleaning of carpets and upholstery, it has been found effectiveto discharge a jet of pressurized cleaning solution into the pile, nap,or weave of the fabric to be cleaned, and to thereafter apply suction tothe fabric to withdraw the used cleaning solution from the fabrictogether with the dirt loosened and entrained in the cleaning solution.

Cleaning apparatus of the type referred to above may comprise, forexample, a liquid tank and vacuum tank each mounted on separate basestructures housing a drive motor and its associated components. A motordrives a suction blower, the intake side of which is coupled to theinterior of the vacuum tank while the discharge side of the vacuumblower discharges to the atmosphere. A liquid pump also driven by amotor is connected to draw cleaning solution from the liquid tank andfeed the cleaning solution under pressure to heating means which is thensupplied through a hose to spray means in the cleaning head adapted todischarge the cleaning solution onto the material being cleaned. For amore thorough discussion, reference is made to patent application Ser.No. 25,521, filed Apr. 3, 1970, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,663,984, issued May23, 1972, and assigned to the same assignee as this application.

Other cleaning devices particularly devoted to commercial cleaningfields have been provided which include fluid distribution means and avacuum means for picking up fluid and loosened material from surfacesafter the surface has been scrubbed by brushes or the like. Still otherdevices have been provided which include means for high pressure fluiddistribution and vacuum pick-up means for receiving the fluid deliveredto the surface to be cleaned.

The picked-up fluid may or may not be returned for recirculation. Thesedevices operate on the principle that the high pressure fluid deliveryserves as the cleaning and scrubbing element thereby eliminating the useof brushes or other scrubbing devices.

Whether one is concerned with two-tank cleaning apparatus as describedabove or any other apparatus having similar power requirements, in everycase the power consuming characteristic of the apparatus has in the pastbeen effectively limited to relatively low levels.

This power limitation is due to the fact that the National Electric Coderequires that all residential and industrial conventional convenienceoutlets be wired and fused for only 15 amperes.

In the past this limitation in available electrical power from anyconvenience outlet has severely limited the design, capability, andefficiency of such devices because their electrical power consumptionmust be lim ited to relatively low values, even if separate electricaldevices are provided for connection to separate outlets as taught in theaforementioned patent application Ser. No. 25,521. For a description ofa method of and apparatus for combining electrical power from twoseparately fused circuits and supplying same to carpet cleaningapparatus of the type here concerned, wherein current in excess of thatavailable from one convenience outlet may be supplied to the vacuumdrive motor for example, while still supplying sufficient current to theother power consuming devices, reference is made to patent applicationSer. No. l54.889, filed June 21, 197], now U.S. Pat. No. 3,697,771 andassigned to the same assignee as this patent application.

As to cleaning heads, many variations in structure are known rangingfrom very complex structures to relatively simple structures. See, forexample, U.S. Pat.

Nos. 2,960,710, 3,436,787, and 3,496,592.

The present invention is directedonly to a cleaning head adapted for usewith substantially any vacuum source of the type sometimes referred toas the wet vacuum" type, together with suitable means for supplyingcleaning solution under pressure.

Cleaning heads of the type here concerned in use are moved relative to asurfaceso that a surface element or strip is first sprayed with cleaningsolution under pressure impinging thereon at an acute angle thus topenetrate the nap in the case of a carpet, and as the motion progressesthe element is next subjected to a vacuum. When the vacuum nozzlereaches the wet element, the cleaning fluid, now containing dirtparticles, dissolved grease and the like, is withdrawn and deposited inthe collection tank.

lt is an object of the invention to provide an improved cleaning headfor cleaning carpets and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a cleaning head comprisinga floor head assembly and a handle assembly wherein the handle assemblyforms part of the means for supplying cleaning fluid to the floor headassembly. A

A further object of the invention is .to provide a cleaning headcomprising a floor head assembly and a handle assembly wherein part ofthe handle assembly contains within it electrical components forsupplying current to the floor head assembly.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cleaning headhaving solenoid actuated valve means remote from the handle assemblythat permits automatic operation during normal use and manual operationin the event the solenoid fails.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a cleaning headcomprising a floor head assembly having at its forward end a fluorescentlight fixture including weighting meansto insure that the forward end ofthe floor head assembly exerts a predetermined pressure on the surfacebeing cleaned.

The novel features that are considered characteristic of the inventionare set forth in the appended claims; the invention itself, however,both as to its organization and method of operation, together withadditional objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood fromthe following description of a specific embodiment, when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cleaning head comprising a floor headassembly and a handle assembly in accordance with the invention withparts broken away of the light housing;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view with parts broken away of thehand grip portion of the handle assembly;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the handle assembly and the interior ofthe floor head assembly showing the arrangement of parts therein;v

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the electrical wiring circuit; and

FIG. 5 is an end sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 1 showingdetails of the front portion of the floor head assembly.

Directing attention now to FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 there is shown a cleaninghead in accordance with the invention comprising a floor head assembly11 and a handle assembly 12 comprising two hollow side members 13 and 14formed of square heavy metal tubing each pivotally attached at one endto pivot pins 15 and 16 carried by the rear of the floor head assembly11. The side members 13 and 14 each curve upwardly and rearwardly towardeach other and extend a distance suitable for a person of average heightto comfortably grip the hand grips 17 and 18 to operate the cleaninghead. The hand grips 17 and 18 are disposed at right angles torespectively the side members 13 and 14 and form part of a square handgrip member 19 of the same size and material as the side members 13 and14. As best shown in FIG. 2, the square hand grip member 19 is welded tothe uppermost ends of the side members to form a rigid structure andseal the side members at this point. Disposed between the side members13 and 14 and below the square hand grip member 19 is an enclosure 21having mounted therein a triple-throw, triplepole switch 22 and anelectrical plug 23 adapted for connection to a power cord (not shown).

Mounted in and extending above the upper surface 24 of the square handgrip member 19 is a spring loaded normally open switch 25. An opening 26(see FIG. 2) is provided in side member 13 to receive electricalconductors 27 as and for the purposes described hereinafter. Theoutermost portion of the square hand grip member 19 is covered withsuitable coverings 28 and 29 of plastic, rubber or the like tofacilitate holding of the handle assembly. Whereas a water-tight weld isnot required for side member 13 such a weld is necessary for side member14 since this side member is utilized as a fluid conduit for cleaningfluid. To this end is provided a hose coupling 31 communicating with theinterior of hollow side member 14 and adapted for connection to acleaning fluid supply hose (not shown) coupled to the source of cleaningsolution from which cleaning fluid is supplied under pressure.

Adjacent the floor head assembly is a flexible hose 32 sealablycommunicating with the interior of side member 14 and terminating at theinlet 33 of a solenoid actuated valve 34 disposed in the floor headassembly. Side member 14 is provided with a water-tight seal below hose32 as at 35 to prevent leakage of cleaning fluid from side member 14.For purposes of strength the side members adjacent the floor headassembly may be closed by solid metal end plugs 41 and 42 of the samesize and configuration as the side members, welded thereto and adaptedto pivotally engage pivot pins 15 and 16. An opening 43 is provided inside member 13 adjacent the floor head assembly and through whichextends the previously mentioned electrical conductors 27.

The floor head assembly comprises a heavy metal cover 44 to which isattached the components disposed therein and side'members 13 and 14. Thecover 44 is provided with a generally rectangular shaped rear portion 45and a generally triangular shaped middle portion 46 which terminates ina generally rectangular front portion 47 to which is attached a lighthousing 48. Rotatably carried in the rear portion of the cover is asplit roller 49 mounted on a shaft 51. Secured to one side of the middleportion 46 of the cover, in a protective housing 52, is a solenoidactuated valve 34 the inlet 33 of which is coupled to the flexible hose32 and an outlet 53 of which is coupled to a fluid dispensing manifold54 more fully described hereinafter. Secured to the opposite side of themiddle portion 46 of the cover is a further protective housing 55 inwhich is disposed an electrical terminal block 56 and the ballast 57 forthe fluorescent light 58 disposed in the light housing 48 carried by thefront portion 47 of the cover. The conductors 27 connected at one end toswitches 22 and 25 are connected to the terminal block 56 as and for thepurposes hereinafter described. Also secured to the cover 44intermediate the housings 52 and 55 is a hollow vacuum nozzle unit 59having an elongated, narrow suction opening 61 at the extreme frontportion of the cover 44 and below the light housing 48. Rearward of thesuction opening 61 the vacuum nozzle unit 59 decreases in width so thatit fits between the housings 52 and 55 and terminates in a tubular rearportion 62 adapted to receive vacuum hose 6.3 which is carried by thehandle assembly and terminates adjacent the hand grips. The vacuum hose63 is adapted to be coupled to a further vacuum hose (not shown) whichterminates at the vacuum source.

The cleaning fluid dispensing manifold 54 is disposed and secured to thecover 44 rearwardly of the suction opening 61 and is provided with tworows of jet outlet nozzles 64 unifonnly spaced one from another andadapted to discharge fan-shaped jets of cleaning fluid. The nozzles arepreferably canted slightly with respect to opening 61 such that theedges of the fan-shaped spray from each of the nozzles overlap but donot interfere one with another. This overlap is desirable to preventwhat is commonly referred to as streak lines in a carpet. The jet outletnozzles 64 may be of conventional configuration and design wherebyvarious arrangements of spray distribution may be provided. The jetoutlet nozzles are preferably oriented to direct their spray dischargeto impinge on the surface being cleaned at an angle of about 20 to 40;thus the row of nozzles adjacent the suction opening are oriented todirect their spray discharge to impinge the surface being cleaned in thedirection of the suction nozzle at an acute angle of about 20 to 40 andthe second rowof jet outlet nozzles are similarly oriented, but at anacute angle away from the suction opening of about 20 to 40. Theprovision of a spray discharge directed both in a forwardly andrearwardly direction results in both sides of the fibers comprising thenap of the carpet receiving a spray discharge. This results in moreeffective cleaning. Further, the spray discharge from each row of jetoutlet nozzles tends to further loosen, dislodge and especially lift tothe top of the nap the embedded dirt loosened and dislodged by the otherset of spray discharge nozzles. Still further, the two rows of jetoutlet nozzles provide in a single pass multiple agitation of the carpetfiber without necessitating a second pass and superfluous undesirablewetting of the carpet fiber.

Directing attention now to FIG. 4 which shows the electrical wiringcircuit in the handle assembly and the floor head assembly, it will beseen that the actuating coil 65 of the solenoid valve 34, ballast 57 forthe fluorescent lamp, and fluorescent lamp 58 are coupled to the powercord 66 via plug 23, switches 22 and 25, conductors 27, and terminalblock 56. Switch 22 as shown has an off position and-two on positions topermit the operator to select one of two modes of operation. In the offor first position, neither the solenoid valve or the light may beactuated; in the second position the solenoid valve may be actuated withthe light on, and in the third position the solenoid valve may beactuated but the light will be off. When switch 22 is in its second orthird position, it will be seen that when switch 25 is closed, currentwill be supplied to the coil 65 of solenoid valve 34, thereby openingvalve 34 and permitting cleaning fluid to be supplied to manifold 54 andsprayed on the carpet via the nozzles 64.

Details of the forward portion 47 of the cover, vacuum nozzle unit 59,weight 70, and lamp 58 are shown in FIG. 5 to which attention is nowdirected. As will be seen from FIG. 5 the forwardmost surface of cover44 and vacuum nozzle unit 59 slopes rearwardly at an angle to opening 61to provide space for and receive the light housing 48. Housing 48extends the length of opening 61 and is generally triangular in crosssection to provide a generally rectangular appearance and receive at itsrearmost portion triangular shaped weight 70, lamp 58, and window 71.The weight 70 is made triangular in cross section to fit in and fill therearmost portion of the light housing 48. The lamp 58 is mounted justforward of the weight 70 and may be fixedly attached as by screws or thelike to the lamp housing 48 to securely hold the weight in place. Thevolume of the weight 70, which may conveniently be formed of lead isselected to provide the proper pressure between vacuum nozzle housing 59and the carpet being cleaned. To reduce the amount of weight needed, thepivot point for the handle assembly and the axis for the split roller 49are located as close together as possible and as far to the rear ofcover 44 as possible so that, with weight 70 located as far forward aspossible in accordance with the invention, the longest possible leverarm is provided thereby permitting the smallest possible sized weight tobe used. The preceeding arrangement and combination of parts incombination with the disclosed handle assembly results in an extremelyrugged cleaning head with the smallest number of components and ofminimum total weight with the provision of the highest possible pressureof the vacuum nozzle unit on the carpet.

With the reservoir tank and vacuum pick-up systems assembled and inoperative condition and the cleaning head operative connected byplugging the power cord 66 into plug 23, connecting the cleaningsolution hose to coupling 31, and connecting the vacuum hose to thevacuum hose 63 carried by the handle assembly, the

nozzle unit 59 and pass thence through the vacuum hose 63 and dischargedin the vacuum tank system.

The invention provides a simple and highly effective cleaning head forapplying high pressure, high temperature cleaning fluid and vacuum to acarpet or the like. Apparatus in accordance with the invention iscompact, simple and relatively inexpensive to manufacture and use and isvery effective, inexpensive and easy to operate.

Further, the provision of a handle assembly in accordance with theinvention eliminates the necessity of a separate and exposed water hosecarried by the handle for supplying cleaning solution to the floor headassembly and exposed wiring carried by the handle. This effects not onlya reduction in the weight of the cleaning head by eliminating componentswithout eliminating their function, but effects increased protection ofparts and increased dependability with a considerable improvement in theappearance of the cleaning head. The provision of a floor head assemblyin accordance with the invention permits a reduction in the effortrequired to use it and an increase in cleaning efficiency as compared toprior art devices.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed, it will be understood,

. however, that various changes and modifications may as new and desiredto protect as Letters Patent is:

cleaning head is ready for use. To this end the floor head assembly withopening 61 in contact with the carpet being cleaned, is drawn insuccessive strokes across the carpet or material to be cleaned, while atthe same 1. In a cleaning head for use with ancillary equipment forcleaning carpets and the like comprising a vacuum source including avacuum hose adapted to be connected to said cleaning head and a sourceof cleaning solution including a cleaning fluid supply hose adapted tobe connected to said cleaning head, the combination comprising:

a. a floor head assembly having a front and rear portion and comprisingvacuum nozzle means adapted to be connected to said vacuum hose forapplying suction to a surface being cleaned, solenoid actuated valvemeans having an open and a closed position, and cleaning fluid sprayermeans for spraying cleaning fluid to impinge on the surface beingcleaned, said sprayer means having a fluid inlet and said valve meansbeing coupled to said fluid inlet;

. a handle assembly pivotally connected to said floor head assembly,said handle assembly comprising hand grip means and first and secondhollow elongated members, said hand grip means comprising first andsecond hand grip members and an enclosure rigidly attached to saidelongated members, said elongated members extending between said handgrip means and said floor head assembly and being connected to saidfloor head assembly rear portion;

. fluid coupling means communicating with the interior of said firstelongated member adjacent said hand grip means for coupling said firstelongated member to said supply hose;

d. hose means connecting said valve means to the in terior of said firstelongated member adjacent said floor head assembly, said first elongatedmember being sealed whereby said first elongated member in combinationwith said fluid coupling and said hose means define a fluid flow path;

e. an electrical plug carried by said enclosure and adapted forconnection to an electrical power cord;

f. an on-off switch carried by said enclosure and coupled to saidelectrical plug; g. electrical conductor means extending between saidhand grip means and said floor head assembly and disposed in part insaid second elongated member and connecting said switch and saidsolenoid valve; and

h. electric light means carried by said floor head assembly frontportion, said electric light means comprising an elongated fluorescentlight disposed within fluorescent light enclosure means, andadditionally including a weight carried within said fluorescent lightenclosure means for providing a predetermined pressure by said frontportion on the surface being cleaned, said floor head assembly includinga metal cover member having a generally rectangular rear portion, agenerally trapezoidal middle portion, and a generally rectangular frontportion having a rearwardly sloping front surface for receiving saidlight means, said solenoid valve means is carried within said covermember and attached to one side of the middle portion thereof, and saidlight enclosure means is generally triangular in cross section andcarried by said sloping front surface.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 and additionally including aroller member rotatably carried in said cover member rear portion andhaving an axis of rotation, and said handle assembly is pivotallyconnected to said rear portion adjacent said axis of rotation.

3. The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said weight is disposedin the furthermost rear portion of said light enclosure means.

1. In a cleaning head for use with ancillary equipment for cleaningcarpets and the like comprising a vacuum source including a vacuum hoseadapted to be connected to said cleaning head and a source of cleaningsolution including a cleaning fluid supply hose adapted to be connectedto said cleaning head, the combination comprising: a. a floor headassembly having a front and rear portion and comprising vacuum nozzlemeans adapted to be connected to said vacuum hose for applying suctionto a surface being cleaned, solenoid actuated valve means having an openand a closed position, and cleaning fluid sprayer means for sprayingcleaning fluid to impinge on the surface being cleaned, said sprayermeans having a fluid inlet and said valve means being coupled to saidfluid inlet; b. a handle assembly pivotally connected to said floor headassembly, said handle assembly comprising hand grip means and first andsecond hollow elongated members, said hand grip means comprising firstand second hand grip members and an enclosure rigidly attached to saidelongated members, said elongated members extending between said handgrip means and said floor head assembly and being connected to saidfloor head assembly rear portion; c. fluid coupling means communicatingwith the interior of said first elongated member adjacent said hand gripmeans for coupling said first elongated member to said supply hose; d.hose means connecting said valve means to the interior of said firstelongated member adjacent said floor head assembly, said first elongatedmember being sealed whereby said first elongated member in combinationwith said fluid coupling and said hose means define a fluid flow path;e. an electrical plug carried by said enclosure and adapted forconnection to an electrical power cord; f. an on-off switch carried bysaid enclosure and coupled to said electrical plug; g. electricalconductor means extending between said hand grip means and said floorhead assembly and disposed in part in said second elongated member andconnecting said switch and said solenoid valve; and h. electric lightmeans carried by said floor head assembly front portion, said electriclight means comprising an elongated fluorescent light disposed withinfluorescent light enclosure means, and additionally including a weightcarried within said fluorescent light enclosure means for providing apredetermined pressure by said front portion on the surface beingcleaned, said floor head assembly including a metal cover member havinga generally rectangular rear portion, a generally trapezoidal middleportion, and a generally rectangular front portion having a rearwardlysloping front surface for receiving said light means, said solenoidvalve means is carried within said cover member and attached to one sideof the middle portion thereof, and said light enclosure means isgenerally triangular in cross section and carried by said sloping frontsurface.
 2. The combination as defined in claim 1 and additionallyincluding a roller member rotatably carried in said cover member rearpOrtion and having an axis of rotation, and said handle assembly ispivotally connected to said rear portion adjacent said axis of rotation.3. The combination as defined in claim 2 wherein said weight is disposedin the furthermost rear portion of said light enclosure means.